A former Hanover councillor says he has been getting a lot of support from ratepayers to take another stab at politics.

Neil Warkentin has announced his candidacy for the Ward Four seat, which includes the communities of Sarto, Pansy and Friedensfeld. Warkentin served on council from 1995 to 2006 and says one of the biggest projects he was part of during his time in office was the gasification project, bringing Centra Gas into the municipality.

Warkentin says Hanover is one of the fastest growing municipalities in the province. Yet, he says with growth comes challenges and these challenges are posing a number of concerns. One of the concerns has to do with taxation.

"We all realize that taxation and services have to be fair for all taxpayers whether urban or rural," notes Warkentin. "Roads and streets need to be rebuilt or maintained and budgets drafted so as to not extend debt on to our children's backs in the future."

Warkentin says council needs to be proactive and focus on the overall picture, while still addressing the needs at hand. Warkentin says he has the experience to do this and planning is a key interest of his.

The former councillor has served on numerous charities and Church boards over the years, including the Bothwell Cheese board, Mennonite Heritage Village, the provincial vet board, treasurer for the provincial chapter of Canadian Sunday School Mission and provincial chairman of the Land Value Appraisal Commission.

Warkentin joins a list of candidates for Ward Four that already includes Mel Funk, Mel Kachur and Curtis Dawydiuk.